Food preserving apparatus



Oct. 26, 1937. R. F. JAMES 2,096,745

FOOD PRESERVING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28', 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l f3 y 4% J4 RNEY.

Oct. 26,. 1937. R. F. JAMES 2,096,746 FOOD PRESERVING APPARATUS File'd Sept. 28V, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATT Y.

Oct. 26, 1937. R. F. JAMES FOOD PRESERVING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 11mm mmmllll INVENTOR. l?. E .f4/755' ATT NEY.

l Patented Oct. 26,1937

UNITED STATES PATENT; oFFlcE VFoon PnEsEnvmG APPARATUS vRobert F. James, Mahwah, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September v28, 1935, Serial No. 42,559

- 7 claims. v (ol. sis- 247) with refrigeration, wastage occurs due to these growths and if the. products 4are kept for long periods of time complete spoilage will ultimately result. It is equally well known at the present time that ultra-violet radiations have a sterilizing effect by killing these detrimental surface growths and it has been heretofore proposed to utilize 20 an ultra-violet generator in a refrigerator for the purpose of preventing the growth of bacteria and mold. f

However, attempts to employ ultra-violet generators of the prior art in conjunction with re- 28 frigeration of food products, such as in domestic refrigerators or the like, has given rise to numerous detrimental results despite the fact that such can generate light of wave lengths `which kill bacteria. Operatlon of these generators or lamps is usually accompanied by considerable generation of heat which aects the refrigerating temperatures and thus imposes a heavy -load upon the compressor. A still further inherent characteristic making such ultra-violet generators impractical for refrigerators resides in the fact that the radiations cause ionization of thev surroundling air with resulting formation of ozone. Inasmuch as this ozone is absorbed by food products, a detrimental chemical Vreaction freunpalatable or uneatable, due to this ozone o r direct chemical reaction although maintained free -of bacteria and mold. Thus, the beneficial action of ultra-violet in inhibiting such growths is more than oset by the resulting detrimental action. s

It is accordingly an object of my present inventlon'to provide a food preserving container for refrigerating food products wherein such products are subjected to a source of highly bactericidi al radiations of low intensity which inhibits the surface growth of molds `-and bacteria without appreciable generation of heat or deleteriously 55 affecting the refrigerating ltemperature ofA the quently ensues, or they 'are otherwise renderedv container by imposing an additional load upon the refrigerating mechanism. I

Another object of my present invention is the provision of a container for refrigerating food products wherein a source of highly bactericidal 5 radiations of low intensity, is utilized to inhibit the container,

the surface growth of bacteria and molds which is operative without an appreciable amount' o-f heat generation or the production of a detrimental chemical reaction'to the surrounding me- 10 dium or food-products, such as would render the latter unpalatable or uneatable. f

A further object of my invention is the provision of a container for refrigerating food products wherein a source of highly bactericidal radiations 15 A of low intensity is'utilized to inhibit the surface growth of bacteria and mold on such food products and to eliminate the odors normally present 'in refrigerators, and the ultra-violet source -is operative without appreciablegeneration of heat 20,

so as to impose no additional load on-the refrigerating mechanism o r cause the production of a detrimental chemical reaction inthe food' products stored in the refrigerator as would vrender the sameunpalatable or uneatable.

A still further object of my present invention is the provision of a container for refrigerating food products, wherein a source of highly bactericidal radiations is utilized to inhibit the surface growth of bacteria, and molds, which source 3'0 is operative Without a'substantial amount of heat generation or vthe production of a detrimental chemical reaction to in surrounding medium or food products stored in the container, and, due to the utilization of such source of radiations,'-the 35 temperature of the refrigerator may be substantially raised to effect higher humidity and lower -in the same are irradiated by a source of highly bactericidal ultra-violet light of a predetermined intensity and lying within a predetermined portion of the spectrum, so that the generation of the radiations is unaccompanied by the generation of appreciable heat or ozone, thus causing no detrimental eifect on the food products stored within' Av further object of my invention isthe provi" sion of a container for storing food products radiations substantially uniformly over the products interiorly of the container by means of vthe radiation generator. l,

Still further objects of my present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing two embodiments which my invention may take, wherein:

Figure 1 isa fragmentary sectional view of a food container, such as a domestic refrigerator, constructed in accordance with my present invention, I Fig. 2 is an elevational view, with parts thereof broken away, of a portion of the container shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a side view, with parts thereof broken away, of the device as shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional fragmentary view on an enlarged scale and taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 1 and showing a slightly modified form which my present invention may take,

Fig. 6 is an elevational view, with parts thereof broken away, of the same modification as shown l in Fig. 5,

Fig. 'i is a side elevational view, with parisy thereof broken away, of the device as shown in Fig. 6, and l Fig. D8 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the modication Vshown in Fig. 7.

provided with a.slidably mounted latchv 8 which is engageable with a suitable keeper! affixed to the container 5. In order to actuate the latch 5, a handler 'I0 is provided which, when swung outwardly about a pivot I2, releases the latch from the keeper 9, by means of the engaging extension shown in Fig. 1, to permit opening of the door 5. An ultra-violet generator I3 is shown mounted upon the inner surface of the door 6, in a manner hereinafter described, and comprises a tubular envelope Il of ultra-violet transmitting material having la transmission characteristic which ab-J sorbs substantially all those radiations of a wave length below'2500 Angstrom units and transmits a preponderance of radiations lying between .2500 and 3100 Angstrom unit's, such for example,

as aboro-silicayte glass free f rom iron and known to the art ,as Corning 972, high on ultra-violet glass, which is a form of Corex glass.

A lamp of the type here shownis fully shown and' described in -my application Serial No. 532,655, led April 24, `1931, but now abandoned,

the rrsubject matter of which is covered by mycopending application Serial No. 734,620, filed July 11, 1934, and is capable of producing ultraviolet radiations of a predetermined`vl intensity and within a predetermined portion of the spec-v trum, without a substantial amount of heat radiation or the formation of a sufllcient amount of ozone to cause a detrimental chemical reaction in the surroundingmedium or the material being" .-treated.

As set'forth more in detail in my above pending application, the lamp or generator I3 may comprise an admixture of approximately neon and 40% argon together with a small quantityof mercury, such that there will be no appreciable excess thereof with an accompanying deposit on the interior of the envelope as would .cause substantial absorption of ultra-violet radiations. By a proper selection of the envelope material, .as above noted, as well as current density of operation, envelope thickness and diameter, and appliedv voltage, a cold operating lamp is produced, especially adaptable for the treatment of food products, which may be utilized in a domestic refrigerator or the like.

For optimum operating conditions in a refrigerator, where a great variety of food products are stored, I find that the most successful and efficient operation is obtained with a lamp having an envelope consisting of the above noted material and gaseous admixture with an envelope diameter of l2'millimeters, and wall thickness of 1 millimeter. With a current of `3() milliamperes and an operating voltage of not greater than 450 volts, as measured by an electrostatic voltmeter across the electrodes, ultra-violet radiations are produced of highly bactericidal character lying within the spectral range between 2500 ,and 3100 Angstrom units. In addition, the generation of these highly bactericidal radiations is y directly or indirectly aiect food products andv render them unpalatable and/or uneatable.

Inasmuch as my novel ultrafviolet generator produces substantially no heat and might be called a cold lamp, it can be installed in domestic refrigerators without detrimentally affecting theirl normal refrigerating temperatures, by imposing an appreciable load upon the usual compressor'as the total energy of the lamp does not entirely resolve into heat. However, it is of considerable significance that by the utilization of a generator of thetype above described, not only is the surface growth of molds and bacteria inhibited, but the refrigerating temperatures of the container may be materially raised.

For instance, 4while the normal. refrigerating temperatures range from i5` to v50 I have -found by actual tests that the operating temperatures of the refrigerator may be raised to a range approximately between 60 and 65 F. with an even greater degree of food preservation.

crease in temperature enables th'e utilization of a smaller size refrigerating mechanism thus effecting a material saving in refrigerator costs alone.

Also I have found an additional savings results in the food products themselves, not only from the elimination of mold and bactericidal growths,

but due to the higher humidity inherently present.

at this higher temperature, thereis lower dehydration of the food products giving rise to less wastage by maintaining them in their natural state for longer periods of tinte with enhanced preservation. Even at such increased temperatures, by the utilization of'my ultra-violet lamp, there is an entire absence of vermin and the customary musty so-ca'lled ice box odor in the refrigerator which constitutes a still further advantageous feature inherent in the device.r

'he ultra-violet generator I3 is mounted on the inner surface of the door 6 for movement relative to the interior of the container or refrigerator 5 so as to uniformly distribute the radiations over all the food products when stored upon the usual shelves. A bracket I5 supports the generator I3 substantially at its center and this bracket is in turn provided with a stem I6 slidably received in a vertical slot I1 formed in the 'inner surface of the door 6. The stem I6 is rigidly secured to a suitable flexible member, such as a chain or the like I8, which member I8 engages suitable sprocket gears or wheels I9 and 20 mounted adjacent the' upper and lower ends respectively of the door 6..

The sprocket gear I9 is carried by a short shaft 22 which is joumaled in suitable bearings 23 affixed to the container door 6. At its ends the shaft 22 carries a pair of bevel gears 24 and 26. The gear 24 is mounted so as to be engaged by another bevel gear 26 carried by the upper end of a vertical shaft 21, which is suitably journaled in bearings 28 also afilxed to the container door. The lower end of this vertical shaft 21 is provided with a gear or pinion 29 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

'Ihe bevel gear 25 is also so positioned as to engage a bevel gear 39 carried by the upper end of another vertical shaft 32, likewise journaled in suitable bearings 33 carried by the door 6, as can be more fully seen in Fig. 2. The lower end of this shaft 32 carries a bevel gear 34 engaging another bevel gear 35 affixed to one end of a short horizontal shaft 36 to which -the sprocket gear 26 is also aiiixed. This latter shaft 36 is maintained in position by suitable bearings 31 and at its opposite end, is provided with another bevel gear 38 engaging a further bevel gear 39 carried by the lower end of a vertical shaft 40, which is maintained in alignment with' the shaft 21 by suitable bearings 42. 'Ihe upper end of this vertical shaft 40 is also provided with a gear or pinion 43 similar to the gear 29 but spaced therefrom as seenin Figs. 2 and 3.

It will thus beobserved that the several bevel gears and shafts provide in substance'a gear train and the arrangement is such thatwhen the gear 29 is rotated in one direction,v such as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2, the gear 43 will, through the train of gearing, rotate in an opposite direction with the shaft 40 rotating opposite to that of the shaft 21 also as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2.

In order to impart movement of the gear train as above described, so as to effect a vertical reciprocatory movement of the generator I3, the handle I0 is provided with a pawl 44 attached thereto at a distance from the point of pivoting said handle to the door, as indicated at 45, and extending through a suitable opening 46 provided in the door 6, as can be more readily seen in Fig. 1. This pawl 44 is associated with the handle I0 so that it engages the teeth of a ratchet gear 41, which is affixed to a short shaft 48, this shaft being vertically journaled in suitable bearings 49, as the handle is pulled out to disengage the latch 3 from its keeper 9. but slips over said teeth when the handle is pushed back to lock the door. Rigidly aiflxed to the shaft 48 are two gear segments S0 and 52 disposed above and below the ratchet gear orwheel 41', respectively, with these gear segments being preferably of 180 extent and arranged on opposite sides of the axis of the shaft 48. 'I'he gear segment 50 is so positioned as to engage the gear 29 and similarly thegear segment 52 engages the gear 43 with the result that when the ratchet gear 41 is rotated, the gears tion is effected over the entire contents.

l'imparted to the ratchet gear 41 and to the gear segments 58 and 52. Either the gear 29` or the gear 43 will be rotated, depending upon which gear segment is in engagement with its respective gear, it being obvious from the description -and drawings that when the gear segment 50 is in engagement with the gear 29, the gear segment 52 will be out of engagement with the gear 43, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus by alternately driving the gears 29 and 43 in the same direction of rotation, movement will be imparted to the gear train in opposite directions and the inner section of the iiexible member I6 will be reclprocated to effect like movement of the generator I3.

lIf, for example, the gear segment 50 is in engagement with the gear 29, shaft 21 will be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and the chain I8 will be moved downward to impart downward movementto the generator I3. When the generator reaches substantially the bottom of the door 6 and the lower extremity of the slot I1, the gear segment 50 will have been moved'out of engagement with the gear 29, and the gear segment 52 will then have `moved into engagement with the gear 43. Continued rotation of the ratchet gear 41 will then effect a movement of the chain I 8 to return the generator I3 to its uppermost position.

vIt can thus be readily seen that movement of the ultra-violet generator in the food container is such that an even distribution of the radia- Movement of the generator is entirely automatic in its operation and, in the embodiment just described, will be intermittently effected by actuation of the handle by which the container door is opened. In order to supply `electrical energy to the lamp from an appropriate source (not shown) during its reciprocatory movement, the electrodes 53 and 54 are connected by means of suitable conductors 55 and 56 to such source. These conductors may extend through an open- Ing 51 in the container and an opening 58 in the bracket I5, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, and be connected directly to the electrodes with sufilcient slack to permit movement of the device.

Preferably. however, to prevent these conductors becoming entangled in the gear train, I break the same and connect them to a pair of Yinsulatingly supported metallic channel members 59 and 60 extending vertically of the door 6 adjacent the vertical slot I1, as shown in Fig. 4.

A pair of insulatingly mounted metallic brushes 62 and 63 are in turn supported by the stem i6, and theA portion of the conductors'55 and 56 connected to the electrodes 53 and 54 and which pass through the openings. 58 in the bracket I5, are connected to these brushes 62 and 63.

Inasmguch as these brushes are maintained in contact with the metallic channel members 59 and 60, electrical energy from the source (not shown) is supplied to the generator I3 in all its during movement thereof. n

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 5 to 8 of the drawings, a slightly modified form ofl construction is disclosed' in which two ultraviolet light generators I3 are shown mounted for" rotation, rather than reciprocation as in the positionsV modification just described.. and which are positioned near the upper and lower ends of the door 6. Both these generators I3 are again supported substantially centrally thereof by the brackets I5 to which the stems I5 are secured. In this modification, however, the stem I5 of each bracket is journaled in suitable bearings 55 and 55 secured to the door 6, as shown more clearly in Figs. '1 and 8. The stem i6 in this instance thus constitutes a shaft and has rigidly secured thereto a bevel gear 61. In lieu of the several shafts employed in the previously described embodiment, a single verticalshaft 68 is suitably journaled in bearings 59'and disposed substantially in the center of the door 6. This shaft 68 is provided with bevel gears 10 disposed on each of its ends which. engage with the beiel gears 51 carried by the respective stems or shafts I5.

As in the previously described modification, the

handle I0 has a pawl 44 pivoted thereto at 45,which pawl engages a. ratchet gear 41 carried by a short shaft 48 and journaled in the bearings 49. Also arllxed to this shaft 48, in lieu of the segmental gears 50 and 52, is a sprocket gear 12. and a ilexible member such as a chain 18 connectsthis gear 12 to a similar sprocket gear 14 aiilxed to the shaft 68. rotation of the ratchet gear 41, by pulling upon the handle I0, the shaft 58 is rotated due to the connection of the sprocket gear 14 with the sprocket gear 12 through the medium of the chain 18, which latter sprocket gear- 12 is vafilxed tothe same shaft 48 as is the ratchet gear 41. Consequently upon rotation ofthe shaft 58 there will be attendant rotation of the bevel gears 10 and these, being in turn'in engagement with the bevel gears 61, cause rotation ofthe stems I5 together with that of the respective generators I3 to effect. an even distribution of the ultra-violet radiation throughout the interior of the con-` tainer 5. f

It should also benoted that the pivot points of the' respective generators '|3, formed by the brackets I5 and stem I5, is so located with respect to each other and the extremities of the door 5, and these generators are so positioned angularly with `respect to each other that they freely rotate without interference or contact either with the container or each other.

Also in order to supply the energy for the lamzp during their rotation a slight modification is made from that previously described. In this latter embodiment the conductors and 55 again pass through the opening 51 provided in the door 5 and are connected to a bi-polar co1- lector ring or the like 15 which is insulatingly supported and surrounds the respective stems I6.

The metallic brushes 52 and 63 are again inv sulatingiy supported by the vrespective stems I5 but are of a slightly diiferent configuration as seen in Fig. 8. However, these brushes are maintained in wiping engagement with the metallic parts of the respective stationary collector rings 15, and being connected to the,electrodes 53 and 54 ofthe respective generators I3, by the conductors 55 and 55 which extend through the opening 58, provided in the .bracket I5 and stem I5, they transmit the electrical energy from the suitable source (not shown) to the lamps during their rotation, in somewhat an analogous manner as previously described.` f I f .From the foregoing it will thus become obvious to those skilled in the art that I have provided a container for housing of food products wherein such products are subjected'to a source of highly bactericidal radiationsof a predetermined intensity and wavewlength. Moreover, the generated ultra-violet radiations -are such .as to inhibit the Thus, upon intermittent growth of bacteria and fungi heretofore4 inherently present in the refrigeration of food products. `Also due to the fact that with my novel ,ultra-violet generator the radiations are unacreaction in the surrounding medium, eliminates the formation of ozone which otherwise results in such reaction affecting food products, ing them unpalatable and uneatable.

i Moreover by the utilization ofmy generator I ha e established-.-the fact thttheinormal refrig rating temperatures may be raised-substantially, thusv effecting a savings both in refrigerating costs and food wastage,v 1ith the food products being maintained in an even better state of natural preservation for longer of time. To better distribute the radiations from the' source of ulta-violet light over the foodlpuoducts within the refrigerator, said source may be automatically moved upon operation of the container door.

Although I have shownvand described several embodiments of my present invention;` I do not desire to be limited thereto as other modifications thereof may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

i. A device for storing and preserving food comprising a container with an opening, a door with an edge portion hinged to said container for closing said opening, a latch slidably mounted on said door, a keeper on said container engageable by an end portion of said latch for holding said door closed over said opening, a handle pivoted to said door and formed withan extension cooper, ating with said latch for moving it 'intoand out of engagement with said keeper, apawl with one end portion attached to said handle at a distancev from the point of pivoting said handle-and door,

so as to be reciprocated thereby, a ratchet wheel movably mounted on said door and rotatable step y by step upon engagement by the other end of said p'awl, ultra-violet light generating means movably mounted on the inner side of said door, and means -connecting said ratchet wheeleand generating means, whereby as said wheel is iter-v mittently rotated by said pawl, upon operation of the door handle and latchasthe dooris opened and closed, said generating means is moved, step l by step, from one position to another on said door, l

said door and formed with-.anextension cooperatingwith said latch for movingit-into'andgot.

of engagement with saidkeeper. a paw! 'im one end portion attached to said handle f at a dis tance from the point of pivotings'aid handle and door, so as to be reciprocated thereby, a ratchet wheel -movablymounted on the inner side'of said door vand rotatable step by step upon engagement by the other end of said pawl.' complementary gear segments. each 180 in extent, operable with shafts, the opposite ends of said shafts being.

geared to normally horizontal shafts carrying sprocket wheels and respectively disposed near whereby as said wheel is intermittently rotated by said pawl, upon operation of the door handle and latch, said generating means is moved step by step between the top and bottom of said door, rst in one direction and then the other, so as to eifect a greater uniformity 'of irradiation of the interior of said container. v

3. A device for storing and preserving food comprising a container with an opening, a door with an edge portion hinged to said container for closing said opening, a latch slidably mounted on said door, a keeper on said container engageable by an end portion of said latch for holding said door closed over said opening, a handle pivoted to said door and formed with an extension coop' erating with said latch for moving it intoand out of engagement with said keeper, a pawl with one end portion attached to said handle at a) distance from the point of pivoting said handle and door, so as to be reciprocated thereby, a ratchet wheel movably mounted on said door and rotatable step by step upon engagement by the other end of said pawl, a sprocket Wheel movable with said ratchet wheel, a normally vertical'shaft rotatably mounted on said door and carrying another sprocket wheel, a chain passing around and engaging said sprocket wheels for transmitting motion to said normally vertical shaft, a pair of rotatably mounted shafts extending normal to said door, ultra-violet light generating means comprising a pair of elongated units mountedon theinner end of said shafts and disposed approximately at right angles to one an other, and gearing for transmitting motion between said vertical shaft and said normally extending shafts, whereby as said ratchet wheel is lintermittently rotated by said pawl, upon operation of the door handle and latch, said gen1- erating means is rotated step by step 'from-one position to another on saidv door, so as'to effect more uniform irradiation of theA interior of said container.

4. A device for vstoring and preserving food comprising a container with an opening,a door Ahinged to said container for closing said o pening, latch means holding said door in closed position, ultra-violet light generating means movably mounted on the inner side of said door, and mechanism connecting said latchand generating means lfor automatically effectingA step by step movement of the latter as' the door is unlatched and latched upon opening and-closing thereof, so as to periodically change the position of said generating means and provide for the more unlform irradiation of the interior of said container.

5. A device 'for storing and preserving food comprising a container with an opening, a door with an edge hinged to said container for closing said opening, a latch slidably mounted on said door, a handle pivoted to said -door and formed with an extensionv cooperating lwith saidA latch for moving it into locked and unlocked positions, a pawl with one end portion attached to said handle at a distance' from the point of pivoting said handle and door, so asfto be reciprocated thereby, a ratchet wheel movably mounted on said door and rotatable step by step upon engagement by the other end of said pawl', ultra-violet light generating means movably mounted on the inner side of said door, and means connecting said ratchet Wheel and generating means, whereby as said wheel is intermittently rotated by.said pawl, upon operation of the door handle'and latch as the door is opened and closed, said generating means is moved, step by step, from one position to another on said door, so as to effect uniform irradiation of the interior of said-container. 4

6. A device for storing and -preserving food comprisinga container with an opening, a door with an edge portion hinged to said container for closing `said opening, la latch slidably mounted on said door, a handle pivoted to said door and formed with an extension cooperating with said latch for moving it into locked and unlocked positions, a pawl with one end portion attached to said handle at a distance from the point of pivoting said handle and door, so as to be reeiprocated.`

site ends of said shafts being geared to generally parallel shafts carrying sprocket wheels and respect'ively disposed near upper and lower edges of said'door, a chain passing around and engagin-g said sprocket wheels, ultraviolet light generating means carried on the inner side of said door for vertical reciprocation therealong, and means connecting said generating means to said chain, whereby as said wheel is intermittently rotated by said pawl, upon operation of the door handle and latch, said generating means is moved step by step between' the top and bottom of Isaid door, rst in one direction and then the other, so as to effect a greater uniformity of irradiation of the interior of said container.

7. A device. for storing and preserving food comprisingv a container withan opening,4 a door with an edge portion hinged to said container for closing said opening, a latch slidably mounted on said door, a handle pivoted to said door and formed` with an extension cooperating with said latch for moving it into locked and unlocked positions, a pawl with one end portion attached to said handle vvat a distance'from the point of pivoting saidhandle and door, so as to be reciprocated thereby, a ratchet lwheel movably mounted on said door and rotatable step by step upon engagement by the other end of -said pawl, a sprocket wheel movable with said ratchet wheel, a shaft rotatably mountedon said door and car rying another sprocket wheel, .a chain passing around and engaging said sprocket wheels for A' transmitting motion to said shaft, a rotatably mounted shaft extending normal to said door,

ultra-violet light generating means mounted on the innerl end of' said shaft and gearing .for

transmitting motion between said shafts,v whereby as said ratchet wheel is intermittently rotated ,by said pawl, upon operation of the doorihandle and latch, said generating means is rota dstep by step vfrom one position to another on sa'iid door, so as to effect more uniform irradiation' of the interior of said container. v- Y y ROBERT F. JAMES. 

